Las Vegas Sun

GSP wins middleweight title in UFC comeback

NEW YORK — Georges St. Pierre returned from a four-year layoff to choke out Michael Bisping to win the middleweight championship in the main event of UFC 217.

The 36-year-old St. Pierre showed no ring rust in the 185-pound bout as he ended his self-imposed sabbatical Saturday night and controlled the majority of the fight. St. Pierre (26-2) had his forehead busted open and bled down his face and onto his chest. But it didn't phase him.

He slapped on the rear naked choke at 4:32 of the third round and won his 13th straight UFC fight.

St. Pierre was one of the UFC's biggest stars and pay-per-view draws during his long reign atop the 170-pound division, but the Canadian star walked away in November 2013.

St. Pierre took down Bisping in each of the first two rounds as the Madison Square Garden roared for the fan favorite. GSP made it 3 for 3 for the challengers in UFC 217 title bouts. T.J. Dillashaw won the bantamweight championship and Rose Namajunas won the strawweight title.